Horizontal bag legger



Aug. 2 1966 D. L. RADFORD HORIZONTAL BAG LEGGER ii led June 21, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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5 Sheets$heet 5 mm IF Filed June 21, 1965 United States Patent 3,263,877 HORIZONTAL BAG LEGGER David L. Radford, Salt Lake City, Utah, assignor to McGraw-Edison Company, Elgin, lll., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 21, 1965, Ser. No. 465,691 11 Claims. (Cl. 223-73) This invention relates to a machine for pressing pants of the jeans type or other lower garments that do not require to be pressed with leg creases.

An object of the present invent-ion is to provide a machine as above characterized that presses pants in one operation in that, after the pants are dressed on the machine, both legs and the top or rise are simultaneously pressed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine, as indicated, that applies wrinkle-straightening heat from within, the same being the only pressing heat employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine as characterized, that has the leg forms thereof in closely spaced, approximately parallel relation when the machine is in dressing position, and in which said leg forms are spread apart to a pressing position in which the pants top is rendered Wrinkle-free due to the crotch thereof being partly spread or opened.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for clamping the waistband portion of the pants top in such a manner that variations in waist may be provided for in the set-up of the machine.

This invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The above objects are realized in a machine that is supported on a pedestal in a horizontal position, with an enclosure that houses means for providing compressed operating air as well as pressing steam, means for mounting the rise of a pair of jeans and for clamping the same in operative position, and a pair of bag-enclosed pivoted legs 'forms extending horizontally from within said risemounting means, the forms of which, in the position in which jeans is dressed thereon, being folded to approximately parallel relation, and the form bags being limp to facilitate dressing of a pair of jeans on the forms.

The compressed air is used for controlling its flow to the bags, to operate the rise-clamping means, to spread the leg forms so that the legs of a pair of dressed jeans are spread in a manner to remove wrinkles from the jeans, and for conversion into steam that supplies pressing heat on the inside of the forms and, additionally, on the front or fly portion of the rise.

The machine includes means, operated by the compressed air, to carry out the above-enumerated functions during a jeans-pressing operation.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description, which is based on the accompanying drawings. However, said drawings merely shown, and the following description merely describes, one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a horizontal bag legger according to the invention and shown in dressing position with a pair of jeans partly dressed on the leg forms.

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FIG. 2 is a similar view, partly broken, showing the machine in pressing position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view as taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view as taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a broken plan sectional view as taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. '6 is a diagrammatic view of the compressed air circuit of the machine.

The bag legger that is illustrated comprises, generally, a support pedestal .10, a horizontal enclosure or housing 11 mounted on said pedestal for housing means to supply the machine with compressed air and for heating a portion of said air for pressing purposes, the remainder of the air flowing in a duct '12 within said enclosure, means 13 to control air flow in said conduit, means 14 carried by an end of said enclosure for mounting the front or fly portion F of a pair of jeans 1, means 15 for pivo-tally mounting a pair of leg forms 16 that extends horizontally forward from the enclosure 11, a bag 17 mounted on the means 14 and the leg forms 16 and forming an air-pervious enclosure that receives air from the duct 1 12, means 18 for heating the interior of said bag for subpecting a pair of jeans dressed thereon to wrinkle-removing heat and moisture, means 19 for manually clamping said fly portion F of a pair of jeans I on the means 14, means 20 to clamp the rear of the waistband W of said pair of jeans, and means v21 to angularly spread the leg forms 16.

The pedestal 10 and the enclosure 11, per se, form no part of the invention, the same merely constituting support and housing means for the novel components hereinafter described. The present machine is air-operated, any suitable means housed in the enclosure being provided for providing a flow of compressed air in the duct 12 and to air cylinders which operate the means '13, 20 and 21. Said enclosure 11 also houses a steam valve for providing heating fluid for the means '18. In any case, compressed air is brought to the duct 12 and heated air and steam are brought to the means 18.

The means 13 is shown as a valve plate 25 mounted on a hinge 26 so as to open or close the duct 12 to flow of compressed air to an opening 27 in an end wall 28 of the enclosure 11, and an air cylinder 29 on a pivot 30 and provided with a piston, the stem 31 of which is connected to the valve plate 25. A spring 32 provides a bias against which the stem is moved by air introduced in line 33 from the source of compressed air by opening of a normally-closed valve 34 by a solenoid 35, when the latter is energized. Air to cylinder 29 may close valve 25 with the spring 32 closing the same, or the arrangement may be reversed, with the spring closing the valve and air to the cylinder opening it.

The means 14 is shown as a collar 35 that extends fixedly from the wall 28, a perforated platen 36 extending forwardly from the upper part of said collar, and a pad 37 over the top of said platen. Said padded platen is transversely and convexly curved, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the front part of a jeans rise being adapted to be fitted thereover during pressing of a pair of jeans.

The means 15 comprises two vertical pivot shafts 38 that are symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the collar 35, the same having rotational bearing in and being mounted between vertically spaced mounting plates 39 and 40. The shafts extend downwardly from the plate 40, the lower of the two mounting plates. Said shafts are forward of the opening 27.

The two leg forms 16 are alike, each comprising a tubular part 41 that is affixed to one shaft 38 between the plates 39 and 40, an elongated tube 42 extending horizontally and forwardly from said part 41 and terminating in an open end 43. Gussets 44 may be provided to brace said tubes 42 to the parts 41 that mount them on the shafts 38. A telescopic extension 45 is fitted into said end of each tube 42, and is held captive by a pin 46 but may be moved in a rearward direction against the bias of a compression spring 47 within said extension between the pin 46 and a pin 48 on the extension. Each extension 45 is provided, on its end, with a smoothly doomed cap 49 that has an annularly-groovedrear portion 50.

The above-described leg forms 16 may be horizontal or, as shown in FIG. 3, upwardly slanted at a small angle. Also, said forms may be parallel or be slightly spread apart, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 5.

The bag 17 is preferably made of thin, air-pervious fabric stitched together in simulation of a pair of pants. Thus, the bag has a rearward part 51 comparable to a pants rise and leg parts 52. The part 51 has its end open and preferably provided with a bound edge 53. It is this part that is fitted over the collar 35, except the lower portion 53a which is intercepted by the lower extensions of the shafts 38. A band 54 encircles the collar 35 and serves to clamp the portion of the bag edge 53 that is trained over the top and sides of the collar. The ends of the leg parts 52 are turned inwardly and are tied around the grooved portions 50 of the domed caps 49. The bag thus provided has a crotch part 55 and is generally larger than a pair of jeans which may be fitted thereon for a pressing operation, it being understood that the bag will expand only to the size permitted by the jeans thereover. Portions not enclosed in the jeans will balloon out, as shown at 56 in FIG. 2. The bag, except for the air that passes through its interstices, is wholly enclosed except at its end that receives air from the duct 12.

The means 18 is shown as a pipe 57 that has an inlet end 58 and an outlet end 59, hot water or steam from the mentioned source circulating therethrough. The pipe 57 is formed as a loop beneath and in close proximity to the means 14, thereby providing means to heat the platen 36 through the perforations of which heat from said pipe is effective on the pad 37.

The means 18 further comprises a steam pipe 60 that terminates in a spray nozzle 61 which is directed to introduce steam into the interior of the bag for so heating the same and a pair of jeans dressed thereon as to remove wrinkles, i.e., press the jeans from within and without the use of any pressing platen applied to the outside.

The means 19 comprises a manually operated clamp that is carried by the top of the housing 11. The same comprises a body 62 capable of being swivelly moved, an arm 63 extending forwardly from said body, a compressible clamp pad 64 on the end of said arm and formed to engage the fly portion F of the jeans dressed on the mounting means 14 and, under pressure induced by a toggle 65 that is actuated by a lever 66, clamping the jeans rise on the mounting means 14 so the same resists any tendency to strip away from the mount under pressure of expanding air from within. The described extension 45 will rather be drawn inwardly against the bias of spring 47 to allow the bag to balloon as permitted by the jeans J.

The means cooperates with the clamp 19 to clamp the waistband W of the jeans at the rear thereof, as indicated in FIG. 3. Said means 20 is shown as a pair of mounting bars 67 that are afiixed to the outer face of the wall 28 and extend downwardly therefrom. A set of holes 68 is provided in each bar, the same, selectively, being engageable by a pivot 69 for the lower end of an arm 70 disposed between said bars 67 and extending upwardly. The upper end 71 is forwardly bent and is provided on its under face with a gripping friction pad 72. The mentioned rear portion of the waistband W is adapted to be drawn rearwardly into engagement with said pad, as shown in FIG. 3.

Said means 20 includes a clamp arm 73 pivoted at 74 to the arm 70 adjacent the end 71 thereof and provided with a gripping pad 75 in opposed relation to the pad 72. Said end 71 and arm 73 comprise band-gripping jaws, the latter of which is movable by the stem 76 of the air cylinder, also mounted at its lower end on the pivot 69.

As indicated in FIG. 6, compressed air, from the source thereof, is brought to the lower end of cylinder 20a by a line 77 to project the stem 76 and cause gripping of the waistband W. A solenoid 78, when energized, opens a normally-closed valve 79 to open line 77 to air flow.

The means 21 is shown as a pair of arms 80 extending opposite the tubes 42, one on the lower end of each shaft 38, an air cylinder 81 pivotally mounted at 82 on one said arm 81, a stem 83 extending from said cylinder and pivotally connected at 84 to the other arm 80, and a spring 85 biasing the cylinder and stem in opposite directions to spread the arms 80, thereby moving the leg forms toward each other to the dressing positions of FIGS. 1 and 5.

As shown in FIG. 6, compressed air, from a source thereof, is regulated to a predetermined pressure lower than the pressure at the source by a regulator 86. This regulated pressure is conducted by a line 87 to the end of the cylinder 81 that would retract the stem 83. The compressed air from the source passes through a normally-open valve 88 to a line 89 that is connected to the opposite end of cylinder 81. This air is at a higher pressure than the pressure in line 87. As a consequence, the stem 83 remains projected, causing the arms 80 to move apart and the leg forms to move to the mentioned dressing position, as in FIGS. 1 and 5.

Energization of a solenoid 90 closes valve 88, allowing the regulated pressure to become effective to retract the stem 83 and cause the leg forms to spread, as in FIG. 2.

It will be understood that the valves 34, 79 and 88, when open, vent the respective lines 3 3, 77 and 89, thereby venting the cylinders 29, 20 and 81, respectively, at the ends where said lines are connected.

A normally-closed valve 91 that vents when opened, is opened by a solenoid 92 to allow pressure air to a line 93 that is connected to the means 18 that supplies heated air or steam for interior pressing, as explained.

The mentioned solenoids are preferably controlled by any suitable programming means to time the periods of operation of the different components, as desired. A suggested sequence of operation consists in dressing a pair of jeans on the leg forms 16 and over the risemounting means 14, spreading the leg forms by operating the means 21 after the clamp 19 has been applied, and operating the means 20 to clamp the waistband, opening the valve 25 to supply pressure air to the interior of the bag 17, supplying pressing steam to said bag for a required time period and, finally, returning the machine to initial dressing condition so the pressed jeans may be removed and another pair dressed thereon.

The dressing position of the leg forms 16 may 'be limited by adjustable stops 94 that are carried by a bracket 95 on the plate 39 and have stopping engagement with the upper gussets 44 on the form tubes 42.

The terms pants or jeans used in this specification, and in the following claims, are intended to include bifurcated garments generally, and the term pressing is intended to include treating or curing of fabric, whether or not chemically coated or impregnated, to remove undesired wrinkles or creases.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is now contemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is, there-fore, not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for pressing jean-type pants comprising:

(a) means in the form of a collar adapted to mount the waistband of such a pair of pants,

(b) a pair of leg forms mounted on pivots within said collar and extending substantially horizontally therefrom, said forms being approximately parallel in the positions thereof during dressing of a pair of pants thereon,

(c) an air-pervious bag shaped in simulation of a pair of pants and extending from said collar, enclosing the leg forms, and terminating in closed ends at the ends of the leg forms,

(d) means to angularly spread the leg forms to, thereby, spread the legs of a pair of pants dressed thereon, and

(e) means to inflate said bag and heat the interior thereof to inflate and heat the pants dressed thereon.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which the collar is provided with a padded platen extending in a direction toward the end of the leg forms and adapted to support the fly portions of the rise of said pair of pants, and means to clamp said latter pants portion to said platen.

3. A machine according to claim 2, in which the heating means includes a loop of pipe conducting steam and disposed beneath and closely adjacent to said padded platen.

4. A machine according to claim 2 provided with means adapted to clamp the rear portion of the waistband of said pair of pants in spaced relation to the lower portion of the mentioned collar.

5. A machine according to claim 1 provided with outwardly biased telescoping parts extending from the ends of the leg forms, the closed ends of the leg-enclosing portions of the bag being tied around the ends of said parts.

6. A machine according to claim 1 in which the lastmentioned means comprises:

(a) a duct to direct compressed air into the bag from the collar-mounted end thereof,

(b) a pipe conducting heating fluid and disposed beneath and adjacent to the rise portion of the pants having its waistband mounted on said collar, and

(c) a pipe terminating in a nozzle directed toward the interior of the bag and conducting steam for spraying into the bag.

7. A machine according to claim 6 which is provided with a valve to control pressure air flow to the bag.

8. In a machine for pressing a pair of jean-type pants with steam sprayed in the interior of the pants, means to mount said pants comprising:

(a) a pair of horizontal leg forms mounted on transversely spaced vertical pivots and movable in a generally horizontal plane on said pivots between approximately parallel relation and an angularly spread relation,

(b) a mounting collar adjacent said pivots, and

(c) an air-pervious bag shaped in simulation of a pair of pants having an open end partly encircling said collar and clamped thereto, and leg-simulating portions enclosing said leg forms and provided with ends tied to the ends of the leg forms.

9. In a machine for pressing a pair of jean-type pants with steam sprayed in the interior of the pants, means to mount said pants comprising:

(a) a pair of horizontal leg forms mounted on transversely spaced vertical pivots and movable in a generally horizontal plane on said pivots between approximately parallel relation and an angularly spread relation,

(b) a mounting collar adjacent said pivots, and

(c) an air-pervious bag shaped in simulation of a pair of pants having an open end partly encircling said collar and clamped thereto, and leg-simulating portions enclosing said leg forms and having open ends,

(d) the leg forms, at their ends, being provided with longitudinally outwardly biased telescoping parts,

(e) said telescoping parts being provided with outer domed ends, and the open ends of the leg-simulating portions of the bag being tied to and closed by said domed ends.

10. In a machine according to claim 9, stops provided to limit the approximately parallel relation of the leg forms.

11. In a machine according to claim 10, means to simultaneously move both leg forms angularly oppositely.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,772,039 11/1956 Hoover et al. 22373 3,115,285 12/1963 Hitz 223-73 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKlN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR PRESSING JEAN-TYPE PANTS COMPRISING: (A) MEANS IN THE FORM OF A COLLAR ADAPTED TO MOUNT THE WAISTBAND OF SUCH A PAIR OF PANTS, (B) A PAIR OF LEG FORMS MOUNTED ON PIVOTS WITHIN SAID COLLAR AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY THEREFROM, SAID FORMS BEING APPROXIMATELY PARALLEL IN THE POSITIONS THEREOF DURING DRESSING OF A PAIR OF PANTS THEREON, (C) AN AIR-PERVIOUS BAG SHAPED IN SIMULATION OF A PAIR OF PANTS AND EXTENDING FROM SAID COLLAR, ENCLOSING THE LEG FORMS, AND TERMINATING IN CLOSED ENDS AT THE ENDS OF THE LEG FORMS, (D) MEANS TO ANGULARLY SPREAD THE LEG FORMS TO, THEREBY SPREAD THE LEGS OF A PAIR OF PANTS DRESSED THEREON, AND (E) MEANS TO INFLATE SAID BAG AND HEAT THE INTERIOR THEREOF TO INFLATE AND HEAT THE PANTS DRESSED THEREON. 